Breathing apparatus for swimmers



Nov. 26, 1957' B. B. GIRDEN BREATHING APPARATus FOR swIMMERs Filed Aug. 5, 1955 .M W mp m i. w WG W W z 'United States Patent O BREATHING APPARATUS FOR SWIMMERS Barney B. Girden, New York, N. Y., assignor of one-half to Sydney H. Danis, New York, N. Y.

Application August 5, 1955, Serial No. 526,688

5 Claims. (Cl. 123-142) The present invention relates` generally to breathing apparatus for Swimmers, and more particularly is directed to apparatus of the described character that permits the user to breathe 'air from `above the surface of the water when at least the users face is submerged.

Breathing apparatus for Swimmers has been proposed and generally takes the form of a hollow pipe or pipes opening at one end into a mouth piece or into a close fitting mask that engages over the nose and eyes or the `entire face of the swimmer, with the pipe, or pipes, being arrangedso that the end or ends thereof remote from the month piece or mask will project above the surface of the water, when the Swimmers face is submerged, to permit the snppiying of air to the swimmer through the pipe or pipes, for example, as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,845,263, issued to me on February 16, 1932.

With the /popularization of under-water fish spearing or shooting, such apparatus made it possible for the swimmer to "remainon the surface 'with ,his head submerged continuously'for improved observation of underwater activity and, in order'to make it possible for the swimmer to dive to a depth `where the upper end of the pipe, or pipes, is subme'rged, for example, to Spear a fish, the apparatus was further improved by the addition of a float controlled check valve at theupper end of each pipe that closes automatically, when the upper end is submerged, and thereby automaticallyprevents the entry of water into the pipe. 'However, 'even with such improved apparatus, the duration of `the dive 'is limited by the time during which the swimmer can refrain from breathing, and this time is very brief and cannot be'voluntarily extended, since breathing i's effected by an involuntary or reflex muscular action when the amount of carbon dioxide contained in the'blood circulated through the body reaches a certain small percentage.

The present invention is based upon the physiologioal fact that the air exhaled during breathingcontains such a small percen'tage of carbon dioxide that it can be inhaled and exhaled repeatedly for an extended period of time before any adverse effects are encountered due to the absence of 'Oxygen and the excessive carbon dioxide content. Thus, when the'increase in the carbon dioxide content in the blood stream makes it necesary for the swimmer to breathe during a dive, the air that is exhaled is still suitable to be inhaled without any adverse physiological reactions so that the collection of the exhaled air for rebreathing provides a basis for extending the time that a swimmer may re'main'completely submerged. Such extension of the time that a swimmer may remain completely submerged or in a dive is of great usefulness, for example, in the practice of underwater fish spearing or -shooting or in life-saving Operations.

'Accordinglyfan object of the present invention is to provide breathing apparatus for Swimmers that normally ,rpermits the breathing of atmospheric air with the swimi z,'814,29z Patented Nov. 26, 1957 f., ICQ

that the duration of the dive may be appreciably extended beyond the time that the swimmer can refrain from breathing.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the described Character having an extensible chamber communicating with both the member through which tair is normally supplied to the swimmer, for example, a mouth piece or a Amask covering more or less of the swimmer's face, and the pipe that, under normal conditions, extends from the air supplying member above the surface, the extensible chamber being preferably located at a low point in 'the breathing apparatus to fiacilitate the overcoming of the buoyancy of the chamber by the swimmer, but, by reason of such location of the chamber, the water pressure acting on the extensible chamber during a dive is greater than the water pressure acting on the valve provided ladjacent the upper end of each pipe extending upwardly from the mouth piece or mask and, therefore, such valve is of a kind that is insensitive to any difference in the pressures acting on the opposite sides thereof, so that the valve or valves will not open during a dive by reason of the pressure diiferential.

A further object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the described Character having 'a blow-out valve at the lowest point `on the apparatus, such lblow-out valve being normally closed by water pressure and being opened by forcible outward breathing of the swimmer, when the latter is out of the water, to permit draining of any water that has entered the apparatus without requiring removal of the apparatus from the swimmer.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment which is to be read in connection with the accomp'anying drawing forming a part hereof, and wheren:

Fig. V1 is a side elevational view of breathing apparatus for Swimmers embodying the present invention and shown in .its operative position on a swirnmer receiving atmos- -pheric air through the apparatus from above the surface of the water;

Fig. 2 i's a `front elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of the illustrative embodiment of Fig. l, but 'on an enlarged scale and with a valve included in the apparatus being shown in its closed position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view, in Vertical section, of a valve included in the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a blow-out valve that is `also preferably included in -the apparatus embodying thi's invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and initially to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, breathing apparatus for Swimmers constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is there illustrated and generally identified by the reference numeral 10.

The apparatus ltlincludes 'a hollow member 11 adapted to closely engage around at least one of the features of the swimmer's face through which breathing can be efiected. Thus, the member 11 can lbe in the form of a mouth piece, as in the illu-strative embodiment, but it is 'to be under- Stood that the invention i's not so limited, and that thel member 11 may be formed as 'a mask covering the entire face -of the swimmer or only the nose and eyes or the nose and m-outh. When the member 11 is in the form of a mouth piece, the mouth engageable portions thereof preferably have the configurations disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,845,263, issued to me on February 16, 1932.

The apparatus 10 further includes at least one air tube or pipe 12 extending upwardly from the member 11 and opening, at its 'lower end, into the hollow interior of the member 11, while the other, or upper, end of the pipe '12 is adapted to extend above the surface of the water of the valve 16 at the upper end of pipe 12.

(Fig. 1) when the swimmer lies face down in the Water either on the surface or at a shallow depth below the surface. Thus, air is normally supplied to the swimmer, from above the surface, through the pipe 12 and member 11 to permit the swimmer to remain face down in the water for an indefinite period.

In order to prevent the splashing of water into the upper end of pipe 12, when the latter extends above the surface of the water, the entry to the upper end of the pipe 12 is preferably reverted. For example, an inverted cup-shaped splash guard 13 (Figs. 2 and 3) may be mounted on the upper end of pipe 12 by radial arms 14 extending from a collar 15 embracing the pipe. The lower edge of the guard 13 is disposed below the upper end edge of the pipe 12 so that water cannot splash into the open upper end of the pipe. The same result can be achieved by forming the pipe 12 with a downwardly bent or U-shaped upper end portion and this particular configuration is not illustrated since it is conventional in apparatus of the described character.

In order to prevent the entry of water into the pipe 12 when the swimmer dives to a depth at which the upper end of the pipe is submerged, a normally open fioat controlled valve assembly, generally dentified by the reference numeral 16 and hereinafter described in detail, is provided at the upper end of the pipe 12 and automatically operates to seal the latter in response to submerging of the upper end of the pipe.

In accordance with the presentv invention, the breathing apparatus includes an expansible chamber 17 associated with the member 11 and communicating with the hollow interior of the latter. In the illustrated embodiment, the expansible chamber 17 is formed by a flexible, bag-like appendage of water-proof material having a fluid tight connection to the member 11, but it is to be understood that the expansible chamber 17 may be integral with the member 11 or 'otherwise incorporated in the latter. In order to prevent the inversion of the baglike appendage forming the chamber 17 into the hollow member 11, a relatively rigid framework 18 is disposed within the chamber 17 and extends from the member 11.

The apparatus 10 further preferably includes a blowout valve 19 (Fig. 2 and Fig. 4) at the lowest point of the apparatus, for example, at the bottom of the chamber 17, and the valve 19 is normally maintained in its closed condition by the water pressure, but the swimmer, when above the surface of the water, can open the valve 19, by forcibly exhaling into the chamber 17, to effect drainage of any water that has leaked into the apparatus.V The valve 19 may be in the form of a conventional flap-valve, as shown in Fig. 4, and which includes a body 20 of soft rubber terminating in two relatively fiat portions 21 that are secured together at the lower ends so as to leave oppositely disposed slit openings 22 between the portions 21.

VThe expansible chamber 17 is preferably disposed at a relatively low point Vin the apparatus so that, when the chamber is filled with air and exerts a buoyant influence, the 'swimmer can bear downwardly on the chamber and easily overcome the buoyancy of the latter.

Since the chamber 17 is disposed at a low point in the apparatus 10, the water pressure acting on the expansible chamber, and hence within the pipe 12, during a dive will be greater than the water pressure acting on the outside In order to prevent opening of the valve 16 by this pressure differential, the valve 16 is preferably of a kind that is in- Sensitive to any difference in the pressures acting at the opposite sides thereof. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, the valve 16 preferably includes a valve member 23, in the .form of a disc, mounted on an axle 24 extending diametrically thereof and journalled in'the wall of. pipe 12 at, or adjacent to, the upper end of the latter. Thus, the disc valve member 23 is rockable about the axis defined by-axle 24 between :a closed position, where it lies in a plane normal to the axis of the pipe 12, and an open position, where it is inclined with respect to said plane (Fig. 3). In its closed position, the disc valve member 23 seats against seat members 25 and 26 formed as semicircular ribs within the pipe at opposite sides of the valve member so that rocking of the latter in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, is limited to the closed position of the valve. The valve member 23 is actuated by a fioat member 27 mounted on the end of an arm 28 extending radially from the axle 24. When the upper end of pipe 12 is disposed above the surface of the water (Figs. 1 and 3) gravity urges the fioat member 27 downwardly and the arm 28 rocks the valve member 23 to its open position for admitting air into the pipe 12. However, when the upper end of pipe 12 is submerged, the fioat member 27 is raised relative to the pipe and causes rocking of the arm 28 and axle 24 in the direction for bringing the disc valve member 23 against the seat members 25 and 26 which limit the movement of the valve member so that the latter closes the upper end of the pipe and prevents the entry of water into the latter.

The apparatus 10 is completed by a strap 29 (Fig. 2), or other similar arrangement, extending from the member 11 to engage around the swimmeris head for holding the breathing apparatus in its operative position.

The above described breathing apparatus for swimmers operates as follows:

When the swimmer is disposed face-down at or near the water's surface, atmospheric air is supplied to the swimmer by way of the pipe 12 extending above the surface and the member 11 engaging over at least one of the features'of the swimmefs face through which breathing can be effected. In preparing to dive to a relatively great depth below the surface, the swimmer inhales deeply to fill the swimmefs lungs with fresh, Oxygen rich air and to contract the expansible chamber 17 so that the buoyancy of the latter is diminished. During the dive, the valve 16 closes the top of pipe 12 so that water cannot enter the latter. When the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the blood stream causes involuntary breathing, the exhaled breath or residual air is discharged through the memberll into the expansible chamber 17 to more or less fill the latter, and this residual air, which, as previously mentioned, has only a very small content of carbon dioxide, can be repeatedly inhaled and exhaled so that the duration of the dive is no longer limited by the time for which the swimmer can refrain from breathing, but is instead only limited by the longer time during which the residual air can be rebreathed without encountering any adverse physiological reactions. Thus, the duration of the dive is appreciably extended.

During the dive, the volume of residual air in the chamber 17 performs a Safety function, since the entry of water into the chamber is immediately apparent to the swimmer before it is inhaled or swallowed and this warning advises the swimmer to surface before a dangerous condition develops. Upon surfacing the pressure of the water on the blow-out valve 19 is relieved and forcible exhaling by the swimmer is then capable of opening the valve 19 to drain the water from the apparatus.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein and shown in the vaccompanyingV drawing, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that embodiment and that various changes and modifications may be eifected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the in' vention, except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Breathing apparatus for Swimmers comprising a hollow member engageable around at least one of the features of the swimmeris face through which breathing can be eifected, at least one elongated pipe extending upwardly from said member and normally projecting, at its upper end, above the waterls surface to supply atmospheric air to the swirnmer by way of said hollow memaaifreoa ber, normally open, fioat controlled valve means at said upper end of the pipe and operative to close the latter when said upper end is submerged, said valve means including a valve member mounted in said pipe for rocking about a diametrical axis between open and closed positions so that the valve member is dynamically balanced and the position thereof is unaifected by diiferences in the pressures within said pipe and externally of the upper end of the latter, respectively, and an expansible chambez` associated with said hollow member and communicating with the interior of the latter and with the lower end of said pipe to receive the exhalation of the swimmer when said pipe is closed during a dive so that the exhalation can be rebreathed for extending the duration of the dive beyond the time during which the swimmer can refrain from breathing, while the closing of said pipe by said valve means is unaffected by the difference between the relatively high water pressure acting on said chamber, and the relatively low water pressure acting externally on said upper end of the pipe.

2. Breathing apparatus for Swimmers comprising a hollow member engageable around at least one of the features of the swimmer's face through which breathing can be effected, at least one elongated pipe extending upwardly from said member and normally projecting at its upper end, above the water's surface to supply atmospheric air to a swimmer by way of said hollow member, normally open, fioat controlled valve means at said upper end of the pipe and opcrative to close the latter when said upper end is submerged, said valve means being dynamically balanced so that the position of said valve means is unaifected by diiferences in the pressures Within said pipe and externally of the upper of the upper end of the latter, respectively, an expansible chamber associated with said hollow member and communicating with the interior of the latter and with the lower end of said pipe to receive the exhalation of the swimmer when said pipe is closed during a dive so that the exhalation can be rebreathed for extending the duration of the dive beyond the time during which the swimmer can refrain from breathing, while the closing of said pipe by said valve means is unaffected by the difference between the relatively high water pressure acting on said chamber and the relatively low water pressure acting externally on said upper end of the pipe, and fiap-valve means extending from said chamber at a low point of the apparatus, said flap-valve means being normally maintained in closed condition by the external water pressure acting thereon and being adapted to be opened by the swimmer into said chamber, when said fiap valve means is externally exposed to atmospheric pressure.

3. Breathing apparatus for swimmers comprising a hollow member engageable around at least one of the features of the swimmer's face through which breathing can be efected; at least one elongated pipe extending upwardly from said member and normally projecting, at its upper end, above the water's surface to supply air to a swimmer by Way of said hollow member; valve means including a disc valve member mounted within the upper end of said pipe for rocking about a diametrical aXis so that differences in the pressures acting against the opposite sides of the valve member provide substantially balanced turning movements and any effect upon the position of the valve member is avoided, valve seat members engageable by said valve member when the latter extends across said pipe to close the latter, a radial arm connected to said valve member, and a fioat member on the free end of said arm, said fioat member, when moved downwardly relative to said pipe by gravity, displacing said valve member toward the plane of the axis of said pipe at the location of said valve means, thereby to leave an open passage through the pipe, and, when buoyantly raised relative to said pipe in response to submerging of the upper end of the latter, being opcrative to move said valve member to a closed position against said Seat members; and an expansible chamber associated with said hollow member and communicating with the interior of the latter and with the lower end of said pipe to receive the exhalation of the swimmer when said pipe is closed during a dive so that the exhalation can be rebreathed for extending the duration of the dive beyond the time during which the swimmer can refrain from breathing, while the closing of said pipe by said valve means is unaffected by the difference between the relatively high water pressure acting on said chamber and the relatively low water pressure acting externally on said upper end of the pipe.

4. Breathing apparatus for swimmers according to claim 3; wherein said valve seat members are formed by semicircular ribs within said pipe engaging said valve member at the opposite sides of the latter to restrict the rocking of the valve member at said closed position of the latter.

5. In a breathing apparatus for Swimmers having a generally upstanding pipe for supplying atmospheric air to the swimmer; valve means for closing the pipe when the upper end of the latter is submerged comprising a valve member shaped to extend across the pipe for closing the latter, means mounting said valve member in the pipe for rocking about a diametric axis about which the valve member is symmetrical between an open position substantially in the plane containing said rocking axis and the aXis of the pipe and a closed position extending across the pipe, a fioat member, and means connecting said valve member to said fioat member so that, when the latter is buoyantly raised relative to the pipe, said valve member is moved to its closed position, and, when said fioat member is moved downwardly relative to the pipe by gravity, said valve member is rocked toward said open position, the symmetry of said valve member about its diametric rocking axis ensuring that even different pressures acting against the opposite sides of said valve member will produce balanced turniug movements, thereby making the movement of said valve member dependent exclusively upon the action of said fioat member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,488,261 Bedini Nov. 15, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 733,688 France July 12, 1932 

